Variety of geranium named `L&#39;amour`

ABSTRACT

This new cultivar is characterized by its pale pink florets accented with a dark pink eye against a medium green foliage. The new cultivar is easily rooted and has a compact mound habit, basal branching and free and early flowering.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium×hortorum known by the varietal name `L'amour` (Oglevee No.2021, Breeder No. P-453). This variety will be commercialized under thename Love Song. The new variety was discovered in a selected breedingprogram in Dresden, Germany in May of 1990. The new variety is aselection from the crossing of a combination of several inbredbreeding-lines which are unidentified but maintained as proprietary forbreeding purposes. The new variety was first asexually reproduced bycuttings at Dresden, Germany in September of 1990. The new variety hasbeen asexually reproduced by cuttings at Oglevee, Ltd. in Connellsville,Pa. over a two year period starting Apr. 1, 1992. It has also been trialand field tested at Connellsville and has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

The cultivar, when grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville, Pa.using natural light and 60° F. night and 72° F. day, has a response timeof six weeks from a rotted cutting to flowering in a 10 cm pot. Theresponse time was determined on plants grown in soilless media employingconstant fertilizer 200 parts per million of nitrogen and potassium infull light. The rooted cuttings were potted on Feb. 23, 1994 andflowered on Apr. 7, 1994.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 of the accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the newcultivar the color being as nearly true as possible with colorillustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics werecollected by asexual reproductions carried out by Oglevee, Ltd. inConnellsville, Pa. The plant history was taken on six week plants in a15 cm pot blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and the colorreadings were taken indoors under 200-220 foot candles of fluorescentcool white light. Color references are primarily to the RHS Colour Chartof the Royal Horticultural Society of London.

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×hortorum.

Commercial.--Zonal florists' geranium.

Form: Compact mound form.

Height.--15.0-18.0 cm from media surface.

Growth.--Compact, semi-dwarf; free flowering, free branching withsemi-double flowers.

Strength: Stands upright without artificial support.

Foliage: Stalked leaf attachment.

Leaves:

Size.--8.0-8.5 cm across; fully expanded leaf.

Shape.--Reniform; cordate base.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Slightly pubescent.

Color.--Top: Green Group 137A. Bottom: Green Group 137C.

Zone.--No zone present.

Ribs and veins.--Venation: Palmate. Color: Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Petioles:

Color.--Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Length.--5.5-6.5 cm.

Stem:

Color.--Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Internodes.--2.5-4.0 cm in length.

THE BUD

Shape: Upright hemispherical cluster.

Size: 2.5-3.5 cm across.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Semi-double; slow to shatter; free and early flowering.

Size: Fully Open Bloom: 9.0-11.0 cm.

Borne: Umbel; florets on pedicel; pedicel on peduncle; 14.0-17.0 cmabove foliage.

Open florets:

Form.--Slightly cupped; semi-double.

Color.--Top: Red-Purple Group 65C. Bottom: Red Group 56D. Eye:Red-Purple Group 57D.

Petals.--Separate, not united; margin entire; obovate; smooth, flat toslightly cupped; 6-8 in number.

Size.--4.3-5.0 cm across.

Closed florets:

Bud size.--1.2-1.3 cm.

Color.--Shows only faintest hint of color.

Texture and Appearance: Smooth; Appearance from a distance is a lightpink flower with a distinct dark pink eye above medium green foliage.

Petaloids:

Quantity.--0-3.

Shape.--Single base with ends split to three points; points twisted.

Color.--Top: Red-Purple Group 65C. Bottom: Red Group 56D.

Pedicel:

Length.--1.8-2.1 cm.

Color.--Base (peduncle end): Yellow-Green Group 146D. Tip (stipule end):Red-Purple Group 59B.

Peduncle: 19.5-24.0 cm in length. Arises from the node opposite the leafpetiole.

Color.--Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Disease resistance: Not known.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Anthers.--1.5-3.0 mm in length.

Filaments.--5.0-7.0 mm in length.

Pollen.--Golden brown.

Pistils:

Number.--1.

Length.--5.0-5.5 mm.

Stigma.--5-6 parted; Red purple.

Style.--2.5-3.0 mm; Red purple.

Ovaries: Superior; pubescent; pale green; 2.5-3.0 mm in length.

Fruit: None observed.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

L'amour` presents a new and distinct color to the geranium industry withpale pink florets accented with a dark pink eye. The light flower coloris striking against the medium green foliage. This new geranium varietywill please both the grower and the home gardener with its ease ofrooting, compact mound habit, basal branching and free and earlyflowering.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of geranium plant substantiallyas shown and described.